Using Context Clues To Determine Meaning The Giver Vocabulary In Context Using Context Clues To Determine Meaning

Defining Difficult Words If you were asked to define the word garrulous, what might you guess it means?

Defining Difficult Words What if you read the word in a sentence? Unlike his quiet and low key family, Brad is garrulous.

Unlike his quiet and low key family, Brad is garrulous. Using Context Clues Unlike his quiet and low key family, Brad is garrulous. If you read these words in a sentence, you might be able to determine the meaning based on context clues. In this sentence, the context—the words surrounding the new vocabulary word—provide clues to help you determine garrulous means talkative.

Types Of Context Clues 1. Using Examples An author may give you examples to help you understand the meaning of an unknown word. “Suzanne had many ailments including a rash, allergies, and a chronic headaches” . The examples—rash, allergies, headaches— help you figure out that the word ailment means “a minor illness.”

The synonym that helps you understand the word terminate is “end.” Types Of Context Clues 2. Using Synonyms A context clue can be in the form of a synonym: a word that means the same or almost the same as the unknown word. A synonym may appear anywhere in a passage to provide the same meaning as the unknown word. “My doctor said smoking could terminate my life. But I told him, ‘Everybody’s life has to end some time.’ ” The synonym that helps you understand the word terminate is “end.”

Types Of Context Clues 3. Using Antonyms An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. Antonyms as context clues are often signaled by words and phrases such as however, but, yet, on the other hand, and in contrast. Many people have pointed out the harmful effects that cell phones in school have had, yet there are many salutary effects as well. Using the antonym context clue ‘harmful’, we can figure out that salutary means beneficial

Types Of Context Clues 4. General Meaning Sometimes it takes a bit more work to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word. When this happens, you must draw conclusions and ask questions about the information given with the word. An employee, irate over being fired, stormed out of the office pushing everyone in his way. Using the information in this sentence, we can assume the man is angry – which is the meaning of irate.

The Giver Vocabulary Use what you have learned about context clues to determine the meaning of the following new words.  

Chapter 1 - 2 1. “”NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE WILL BE RELEASED”…Jonas had smiled a little, though he knew what a grim statement it had been. For a contributing citizen to be released from the community was a final decision, a terrible punishment, an overwhelming statement of failure” (2) 2. “Even the children were scolded if they used the term [release] lightly at play, jeering at a teammate who missed a catch or stumbled in a race” (3). 3. “Jonas and his sister, Lily, argued over turns, over who would get to go first. Their parents, of course, were part of the ritual; they, too, told their feelings each evening. But like all parents – all adults – they didn’t fight and wheedle for their turn” (5).

Chapter 1 - 2 4. “It was a lesser job, night-crew nurturing, assigned to those who lacked the interest or skills or insight for the more vital jobs of the daytime hours” (9). 5. “Next, Mother, who held a prominent position at the Department of Justice, talked about her feelings” (8). 6. “He glanced at his mother, the one responsible for adherence to the rules, and was relieved that she was smiling” (12). 7. “His father smiled his gentle smile ‘Well, it was clear to me – and my parents later confessed that it had been obvious to them, too – what my aptitude was. I had always loved the newchildren more than anything’” (15).

Chapter 1 - 2 Synonyms/Definitions of Words 1. Grim – forbidding; threatening; serious; harsh 2. Jeering – teasing; mocking; ridicule 3. Wheedle – coax; persuade; convince 4. Vital – necessary; important; essential 5. Prominent – important; leading; in the forefront 6. Adherence – follow; comply; conform; submit 7. Aptitude – strength; natural ability; talent

Chapter 3 - 4 1. “Jonas glared at her. He didn’t like it that she had mentioned his eyes. He waited for his father to chastise Lily” (20). 2. “’She told me that the Birthmothers get wonderful food, and they have very gentle exercise periods…I think I’d like that,‘ Lily said petulantly (22). 3. “He laughed silently to himself, picturing his sister droning on in the self-important voice that all speakers seemed to develop” (22-23).

Chapter 3 - 4 4. “But with guidance, as they developed self-confidence and maturity, they moved to other jobs, gravitating toward those that would suit their own interests and skills” (26). 5. “Last night he had watched as his father bathed the new child. This was much the same: the fragile skin, the soothing water, the gentle motion of the hand” (30).

Chapter 3 - 4 1. Chastise – punish; reprimand; scold 2. Petulantly – childish; sulky; bad-tempered 3. Droning – talk at length; go on and on 4. Gravitating – move towards; be attracted to 5. Fragile – delicate; easily broken; vulnerable

Chapter 5 - 6 1. “His mother told of a dream fragment, a disquieting scene where she had been chastised for a rule infraction” (34). 2. “The bicycle…would be a powerful emblem of moving gradually out into the community” (41) 3. “’I want to get a good seat in the auditorium’ she prodded Lily to the front door and Jonas followed” (41).

Chapter 5 - 6 4. “Jonas…made his way through the throng to find his group” (41). 5. “The audience applause, which was enthusiastic at each Naming rose in an exuberant swell” (44). 6. “His transgressions were small ones, always: shoes on the wrong feet, schoolwork misplaced, failure to study adequately for a quiz” (45). “He and his groupmates congregated by the tables” (47).

Chapter 5 - 6 1. a) Disquieting – anxious; worrisome; concerning 1. b) Infraction – violation; offence 2. Emblem – symbol; representation; figure 3. Prodded – poked, pointed OR persuade; convinced 4. Throng – crowd; group; pack 5. Exuberant – cheerful; lighthearted; joyful 6. a) Transgressions – wrong doing; sin; crime 6. b) Congregated – gather; come together; meet

Chapter 7 - 9 1. “Finally the Chief Elder paid tribute to the hard work of her committee, which had performed the observations so meticulously all year” (52). 2. “Jonas remembered his mother had called it a job without honor…Birthmother was an important job, if lacking in prestige” (53). 3. “But the next morning [Asher] had done it again. And again the following week. He couldn’t seem to stop, though for each lapse the discipline wand came again” (55).

Chapter 7 - 9 4. “He saw the others in his group glance at him, embarrassed, and then avert their eyes quickly” (57). 5. “The audience was clearly ill at ease. They applauded at the final Assignment; but the applause was piecemeal, no longer a crescendo of united enthusiasm” (59). 6. “Earlier that day, dressing in his own dwelling, he had practiced the kind of jaunty, self assured walk that he hoped he could make to the stage” (60). 7. “Almost instantly the excruciating pain in his hand had diminished to the throb which was, now, all he could recall of the experience” (70).

Chapter 7 - 9 1. Meticulously – attention to detail; careful; precise 2. Prestige – respect; admiration; honor 3. Lapse – temporary failure in memory or judgement 4. Avert – turn away 5. Piecemeal – a little at a time; bit by bit; in steps 6. Crescendo – increase in loudness 7. Jaunty – cheery, happy, lively; confident 8. Excruciating – intensely painful; intense; severe

Chapter 10 - 11 1. “It was very startling; but he was not at all frightened, now. He was filled with energy, and he breathed again feeling the sharp intake of frigid air. Now, too, he could feel cold air swirling around his entire body” (80). 2. “And he could see, though his eyes were closed. He could see a bright, whirling torrent of crystals in the air around him, and he could see them gather on the backs of his hands, like cold fur” (81). 3. “Finally the obstruction of the piled snow was too much for the thin runners of the sled, and he came to a stop” (82).

Chapter 10 - 11 4. “This time, as he lay basking in the wonderful warmth, he felt the passage of time” (86). 5. “’Owwww,’ he said, wincing at the shift, and even moving his mouth to speak made his face hurt” (86). 6. “The man had say back down in the comfortable upholstered chair He moved his shoulders around as if to ease away an aching sensation. He seemed terribly weary” (87).

Chapter 10 - 11 1. Frigid – very cold 2. Torrent – strong and fast moving 3. Obstruction – barrier; obstacle; hurdle; block 4. Basking – to make the most of; revel in; lie in warmth 5. Wincing – flinch; make a face; squirm (from pain) 6. Weary – tired; worn out; exhausted